The Reference Series is back, better then ever.
Conceived several years ago to replace the Studio Series, the first Reference Series amplifier range was completed in 2001.
The Reference Series (originally called AG) marked ZAPCO's first attempt to bring the qualities that had built the ZAPCO legend to a line of amplifiers accessible to all. The response exceeded the company's wildest expectations.
ZAPCO presents today the new Reference Series, not to offer an amplifier accessible to everyone, but to offer the best amplifier in its price range, with four new models of 1, 2, 4, and 6 channels, with a classy new design and selected internal components, to obtain the best audio performance. The new Reference Series amplifiers sound as good as, or better than, other companies’ most expensive amps.
Internal Components Highlights
Transformers
Most of the transformers used in our products are hand-wound in our own facility to ensure maximum quality. This is the only way that current capability, efficiency, and radiated noise can all be kept within our demanding parameters. All transformers are securely mounted in their respective chassis. Transformers are massive, and if not securely mounted can cause failure among internal components due to vibration.
- High-power chrome shielded toroidal transformers
- Optimized to reduce losses and handle high currents
- High-temperature resistance, high permeability and insulation performance
- Transformer core with full copper wire windings
- Low ESR, highly efficient
Capacitors
Capacitors are similar to batteries. Like a battery, they store energy and have an electrolyte (internal fluid). Also like a battery, a capacitor can have a very limited life. “Computer grade” capacitors for example, are reliable only in cool environments with very little current applied to them. Only the best high current and high temperature capacitors should be used in an autosound application. Although these capacitors typically cost five times as much as those used in our competitor’s products, ZAPCO insists that no audio degradation will occur over time.
Input Capacitors:
- High density polypropylene base material
- Vacuum dustless steaming aluminum-tin alloy coating
- Heat treatment
- Wide intermediate frequency, clear tone
- Loss factor: ≤0.0006 (1KHz)
Power Capacitors:
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- High-quality low internal resistance filter capacitors
Mosfets
Advanced Power MOSFETs to achieve extremely low on-resistance per silicon area. This benefit, combined with the fast switching speed and ruggedized device design, allows for extreme efficiency.
- Ultra Low On-Resistance, Fast Switching
Resistors
All resistors (other than power resistors) are 0.1% precision, low noise metal film. This is a key reason why ZAPCO products have the industries’ best noise specs, and why you won’t see as much fluctuation in our test certificates as you will in others. Precision resistors also reduce distortion and improve channel matching.
- High-precision 0.1%
- 20ppm power resistor
Operational Amplifiers
Bipolar-input high quality sound Dual OP. Ideal for high-end audio equipment reproducing the finest sound such as live sound of orchestra in the hall and breathing sound of player in live music.
Transistors
The MN1526 is a NPN transistor with constant hFE characteristics in a widecurrent range, providing high-quality audio sound.
- High Transition Frequency
- Bare Lead Frame: Pb-free
Balanced/Unbalanced Systems
The electrical environment in an automobile is one that is inherently noisy and filled with conditions that threaten to degrade signal fidelity at every turn. Capacitive loading due to the long cable lengths, the potential for ground loops, alternator charging currents or currents generated by the amplifiers themselves are all factors that induce noise and distortion into the signal cables. By no means is this an ideal situation. ZAPCO has found the solution many years ago with SymbiLink components, converting a standard unbalanced audio signal into the fully balanced domain. At that time the SymbiLink connection was realized by two separate inputs. Today the same solution is realized with balanced input by RCA and unbalanced input through a button that is collocated inside the amplifier.
Our Dedication to Sonic Purity Requires the Highest of Quality in Internal Component Parts
The Reference Series Amplifiers
Our dedication to sonic purity requires that the highest quality internal components are used, like high quality Bipolar-Input Audio OP for High-End Audio, High Quality Transistors with high transition frequency. The Capacitors are made with high density polypropylene base material, vacuum dustless steaming aluminum-tin alloy coating, and heat treatment. The Power Mosfets are N-type semiconductor field-effect transistors capable of handling high-power applications, utilizing advanced processing techniques to achieve extremely low on resistance per silicon area. Handmade for ZAPCO, the Transformers used are hand-wound to ensure maximum quality. This provides a guarantee that current capability, efficiency, and radiated noise are all kept within our demanding parameters. The chassis entirely made in solid aluminum guarantees high thermal dissipation, with a solid titanium plate with the logo for posterity.
Upgradable OPs
Bipolar-input high quality OP. Ideal for high-end audio equipment reproducing the finest sound such as live sound of orchestra in the hall and breathing sound of player in live music. The provided MUSES8820 is a two step an higher level of sound quality respect the LME49720. We consider one step an easy minum perception of a better sound quality. The Reference amplifiers offer the possibility of replacing the original OPs (MUSES8820) with even higher-performance OPs (MUSES02), or with other OPs the customer prefers. This operation can be done quite easily, since the OPs are mounted on sockets and not soldered. The MUSES02 surpass the quality of the MUSES8820 two steps more. It is 4 steps an higher level than the LME49720 similar discrete OP.
